Preschoolers’ special Bishop O’Connell moment
The story behind a photo of preschoolers’ special Bishop O’Connell moment
Since his death in February, a photo capturing a lighthearted moment of Bishop David O’Connell with some young fans has been stirring hearts among LA’s Catholic school community.
The morning of Dec. 14, 2022, O’Connell celebrated a Mass with students and blessed a new school building at All Souls World Language Catholic School in Alhambra, located in the San Gabriel Pastoral Region where he served as auxiliary bishop.
After the blessing, O’Connell was walking to his car as some transitional kindergarten (TK) students were playing and kicking around a soccer ball in the school courtyard. The children swarmed the bishop, who stopped to talk to them. Then O’Connell did something that surprised everyone: he picked up the ball and put it in his miter.